Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — A group of 20 Filipino women, who were ejected from their accommodation by their employer for not reporting to work, took shelter at Bahay Kalinga, a shelter home for stranded female workers managed by the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah.

The women were not paid their salary and food allowance for the past two months by their employer and as a result women refused to report to work. Subsequently, the women were evicted them from the accommodation provided by the company.

The company had deployed the Filipino women to various hospitals and households in Jeddah to work as cleaners.

According to a statement from the Philippine Consulate, the women were being provided shelter by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office after they were formally taken into its custody.

The consulate officials swung into action when the ordeal of the women came to their notice. Consul General Edgar Badajos said on Tuesday that Philippines Overseas Labor Office was working for the repatriation of the aggrieved women with the coordination of the Philippine recruitment agency.

Labor Attaché Nasser Munder and Welfare Officer Yolanda Penaranda met the workers and assured them of all possible assistance.

These women were recruited by a leading Saudi recruitment agency that latter transferred the sponsorship to their current employer upon their request.